Abstract

Purpose: The 2022 enactment of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (SAPA) was intended to pivot South Korea’s construction industry toward a self-regulatory safety paradigm; yet, the persistence of conventional accidents remains a sobering reality. Research design, data and methodology: This research addresses this gap by examining the empirical effectiveness of systematically aligning Risk Assessment (RA) and Permit to Work (PTW) systems as a proactive strategy to mitigate recurring hazards. Drawing on a dataset gathered from 214 safety managers and Construction Management (CM) professionals in the public sector, the study utilizes Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis to validate hypothesized relationships. Results: Findings demonstrate that a cohesive RA-PTW linkage does more than just organize paperwork; it fosters safer and consistent behavioral patterns among workers, which in turn significantly elevates accident prevention performance. Crucially, results highlight the on-site monitoring function of CM personnel as a pivotal moderator that effectively bridges the inherent disconnect between administrative compliance and tangible safety outcomes. Conclusions: The study concludes that ensuring the efficacy of safety protocols requires moving beyond a mere bureaucratic veneer of integration toward rigorous, real-time field verification by CM experts. Ultimately, these insights provide a high-reliability governance framework for developing resilient safety management systems capable of thriving within an increasingly high-stakes regulatory environment.